Grant: Discovery Launch Supplement

Presently, the world is at the precipice of the next era of space utilization and commercialization. With the privatization and advance of launch vehicle technologies, space has never before been more accessible. Private space companies and government agencies are proposing increasingly more sophisticated space systems, such as commercial space stations, on-orbit refineries, and space-based solar power arrays-systems that will not only advance the space ecosystem, but also provide great benefits on Earth, such as low-cost, clean, accessible power and advanced manufacturing processes. Concurrently, the challenge of space debris accumulation in orbit continues to increasingly pose a risk to both spacecraft and astronauts-a challenge that must be addressed to ensure a sustainable future in space. To achieve this vision and address this challenge, advances must be made in the realm of space robotics. Autonomous and intelligent space robots, capable of performing tasks such as inspection, servicing, assembly, and debris capture, will form the cornerstone and be the catalyst for the next generation of space structures and activities. The long-term goal of this research program is to advance techniques, algorithms, and experimental space robotics testbeds to set the groundwork needed to seize the opportunities provided by the new space era. In the short-term, this program aims to develop the algorithms and control methods required to establish a cutting-edge space robotics testbed that will allow for emulation of a wide array of on-orbit spacecraft interactions scenarios-from spacecraft inspection to capture of tumbling space debris. Through research in path planning, dynamics, and control of multiple highly capable and integrated robotic systems, the testbed will create a means for verification, validation, and evaluation of new space robotics techniques and strategies. Additionally, this program aims to improve space situational awareness through developing novel intelligent techniques for modeling, characterizing, and predicting motion for space objects. Developing an awareness of target space objects through a combination of intelligent 3D mapping techniques, formation flying, and optimal spacecraft maneuvering, is an essential step towards ensuring safe, reliable, and effective interactions. Lastly, this research program aims to create intelligent and adaptive algorithms that allow space robots to effectively avoid collision, grasp, and remain fixed to space structures, satellites, or debris. The applicant, Dr. Bazzocchi, has a significant track record in the development of spacecraft testbeds and space robotics, as well as in the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) in the areas of space engineering and robotics. This program will generate high-impact research and innovation, as well as hands-on training experiences for the next generation of HQP in the space sector, helping Canada to remain a global leader in the field of space robotics.